Anyone in NC, Charlotte or Union County?

[Radio Ron w4ron]

Is there anyone on GJ in North Carolina, especially the Charlotte area, or Union County?
If so, are you from here or did you did you move here?
How long have you lived here?

Just about me, my family moved to Charlotte when I was 7 years old.
My home town is Yanceyville NC, just south of the VA/NC border. I was born
in Danville VA because Yancyville was so small it didn't have a hospital.
We left there the summer I turned 6 and moved to Albemarle while my father was in barber school, after he finished barber school we mover to Charlotte.
My wife is a Charlotte native, born and raised.
After we were married we lived in Charlotte for 17 years before moving to our current and last home in 1988.
When we moved here it was country, unincorporated Union County. In 1995 a small town near us wanted to expand their tax base and decided to annex a large chunk of Union County. Thanks to a county commissioner my wife knew we got a tip that their incorporation was illegal. I was like most people and thought "you can't fight cityhall". We put together a group of neighbors and started talking to others in the effected area, after raising some money through donations we hired a lawyer and took them to court. We won the first court case, and then the next one when they appealed. They were getting ready to take it to Seporior Court when our second lawyer told us we should try to incorporate. Our first lawyer told us we couldn't do it, he was wrong. We put together another group of neighbors and started working on trying to incorporate. Nine months later the state legislator approved or petition for incorporation and handed us a town.
Thinking back it reminds me of an old joke my dad like to tell me,
we were like a god chasing a truck, he wouldn't know what to do with it if he caught it...
We didn't have a clue as to how to run a town. We were just a bunch of neighbors and now we had to figure out how to run a town.
We had no money, we had to pass the hat at meetings just to be able to pat for making copies. I served 2 terms on the city council of Wesley Chapel, it was fun when we were first getting started, but then the politics got to deep and I decided I had had enough.
Now I'm just retired and only work at being a "Professional Antique Radio Collector.

Sorry for the long thread, I'm a story teller at heart

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Live in China Grove, NC area

Ancestors came to this area after serving in American Revoluntionary War.

Proudest of Confederate veterans in my humble linage; fighting at Gettysburg, Cedar Creek, VA, and Bettonville, NC (17 years old in NC Junior Reserves)

Member of Sons of Confederate Veterans....


Professional spark chasing wrench man by trade....

Believe in God, Guns, and Guts, all three made this country free...

 

[Umclemrbig]

Ok-I lived in yanceyville (actually Providence-my parents rented a house from Mr Charlie Foulkes), was born In Danville. My dad worked with Dan River and they now live in Albemarle.

 

[RalphInCA]

No, thank god.

Lived there for about 13 years. Glad I don't any longer.

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

No, thank god.
Lived there for about 13 years. Glad I don't any longer.

So are we.

 

[RalphInCA]

So are we.

No your not. At least you should not be. When we moved out of NC, the state lost an excellent citizen who was involved in the community, had a high income, paid his taxes without complaint, never was in trouble with the law, led Boy Scout troops, was a leader in his church and was a professional church growth consultant. i was friendly to everyone and had no enemies.

We moved away because it was not exciting enough for me. I missed the excitement of a big city. Charlotte was not big enough.

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

No your not.

Oh yes I am, I don't want anyone here that doesn't really want to be here.
After the economy dumped and so many people up north were out of work
they all seemed to think this was the promised land and moved here looking for work.
Everyone of them you talk to hate it here, all they talk about is how they did things back home.
I wish they'd go, and stay.

 

[DAVE VAN]

How are you doing Ron? I am still in Gastonia, born and raised here still driving the Cobra!

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

How are you doing Ron? I am still in Gastonia, born and raised here still driving the Cobra!

Hey Dave, it's GREAT to hear from you. I'd love to see the Cobra sometime.
You need to come see the collection, it's completely different since you saw it.

I really liked your dad, he was a good friend and a really good guy.

 

[Brownac1983]

Hey Ron,
I'm from Gaston county, just west of Charlotte. You might have known my great uncle Joe, W4AMO Stanley, NC.

 

[jasonvt]

I live in wesley chapel. love it

 

[Glenn M.]

I guess I'm one of those northern carpet bagger types that came down back in the late 80's - to work a short term contract job at a firm on Tyvola Road... Charlotte was a fine town... I worked more than a few contracts in the Greenville SC area over the years after that, only thing that ever "bothered" me about Charlotte was when I was passing by on I-85 at night - and the way the lights were (Still are I guess) on the uppermost floors on the Nation's Bank building - reminded me of a place that I thought Satan must live - was almost surreal, white light. Heck of a sight...

 

[hblock72]

Salisbury here.

 

[CoconutPete]

I'm moving to Charlotte, Ballantyne in Sept or Oct.

No, thank god.

Lived there for about 13 years. Glad I don't any longer.

If it was so awful, why did you wait 13 years to leave?

 

[Pig In A Poke]

I moved from Arkansas to Connecticut in pursuit of my career, after Thirteen years there I needed to leave the not so great grey north, my wife(Bostonian) and I as well as my parents, sister, and pretty soon my brother, have really enjoyed Charlotte. If I could find a place uptown with a 2/3 bay garage that is where I would live. Unfortunately we are in subdivision hell, but at least it is better environmentally than the 5 acre grass farms that surround the city.

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

We're thinking about a condo in downtown Charlotte at some point in the future
when we can't take care of what we have now.
No 5 acre grass farm here, we have 3 acres in the woods surrounded by other mostly
larger fully wooded lots.
The only grass I have to mow is on 780' of road frontage that the state is supposed
to mow but only did it about twice a year. So we got together and told them to stay
out and we'd mow our own grass.
If it was just me I'm find an old commercial building that I could buy and use as living
space, work shop and at least 1200 sq feet of display room for my radio collection.

.

 

[427FAB]

Hey just seen your post .I just moved here last October.We live in Wesley Chapel .We love it ! We love Union County as well !!! We are very happy with the schools and the area!! We love the south !! Besides I'm a hot rod/ race car maniac !!NC is the place to be of your into cars !!

 

[hd54kh]

Well I've been visiting N.C. for 35 years, and shamefully it took that long to finally start relocating here. My wifes family are here and that is why I have been visiting so often over the years. I come from an upstate New York town that had such a wonderful populace but has deteriorated over the past few years. New York Citiots invading our previously prestine, quiet country life.

I move here to Mooresville and it is like a step back in time, a great mix of friendly open accepting folks. After all I am a yankee and the new guy in town, and feel like they might have viewed me as I do the citiots but so far all is well and I do feel welcomed.

Oh and having a car and motorcycle hobby this is the place to be. How can you beat the wife finding a home in Race City USA and all her family in a 20 mile radius.

Terry
Mooresville
Rowan County
North Carolina

 

[Hawk]

There are Yankees, D*** Yankees, Southerners, and Southerners misplaced at birth (born above the Mason-Dixon line). Met some good in all of them, and some I would not waste shoe polish on. North Carolina born and bred and happy to live in Kannapolis for the last 15 years after living in Charlotte for 10 years.


Been in all 50 states and still prefer NC.

 

[KiWinUS]

Charlotte since 1985 for me & my now wife of 27 years , west side towards MT.Holly
40x60 just 2 years old for all my old flatheads & motorcycles.
Cheers
Tony

 

[atwageman]

I lived in Monroe since 87 and two years ago moved to Charlotte. Prior to 87 I lived in OH,IA,WI,MN, and NE.

In the big picture, I can't complain...........

 

[RotaryRacer]

I moved to Charlotte in 1988. Currently living up around Lake Norman. Good to know there are other GJ fans around here!

 

[Displaced Hokie]

Winston-Salem here, grew up just east of Danville. Love it!

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

Winston-Salem here, grew up just east of Danville. Love it!

I was born in Danville, my folks lived in Yanceyville and Danville had
the closest hospital

 

[Umclemrbig]

I was born in Danville-my parents lived in a suburb of Yanceyville-Providence. My uncle still lives there and owns a construction company.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

 

[ChevyEFI]

I'm sad I have never visited NC

prior to the influx of New Yorkers etc.

 

[Old Steamer]

Hi Ron

I'm from Roxboro and interestingly enough, went to Yanceyville this morning to take care of some business there at the DMV. If the folks running the DMV in Roxboro were more knowledgable about their business I would use the one here. However, Yanceyville in only about 20 minutes from my house, so I go there.

It's a beautiful drive through Person and Caswell counties on 158 heading that way. I took 62 to Milton and then 57 back to Roxboro on my return trip. The farm land through there is beautiful. Hay has been cut for the fall and is drying in the fields. Most of the tobacco crop is in and I got behind a truck pulling 2 trailers full of tobacco leaves headed to the barn for curing.

My family often goes to Danville for shopping or eating out instead of Durham as most people here do. Actually I prefer South Boston as it is a very nice small town and even closer to me than Danville.

Anyway, I don't mind stories and good luck in Charlotte.

Tim

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

Hey Tim, I loved your story about visiting Yanceyville, I'd love to go
back for a visit. I'm friends with a girl I knew when we lived there, we
were both 5 at the time I keep thinking about planning a visit back
home one of these days.

I noticed your avatar, I assume you're a steam guy, I have a good friend
Barker Edwards who's into steam, he has a big steam tractor kinda like
the one in your avatar, he's also a antique radio collector and a member of
or Carolinas club.

 

[James E]

Raleigh resident here. Mom and Dad moved us to Winston-Salem from Indiana in the early eighties when I was in grade school as Dad did his residency at Bowman-Gray. Lived there four years and loved it. Then did one year in Knoxville and then settled for good in Raleigh. Been here and in Greensboro (hated that) for the last 28 years. Married a girl from Apex ("the peak of good living") and don't ever want to leave Rallywood.

It's actually been a hindrance to my career that I won't move to take a promotion but I don't care too much.

I've got alot of good friends from Charlotte. Like Raleigh, it's one of those places where people from there seem to migrate back after sowing their wild oats. It's a good place to raise a family.

Some friends and I will be down your way in two weeks. We always go to the Charlotte shows at the speedway. After some down times, it's been a fantastic show for the past two or three years. Maybe we'll see you there.

 

[Old Steamer]

Ron, I do know Barker. I’ve known him since the early 80s when we both worked for Carolina Power and Light. The engine he owns is a 1925 Advance Rumley and I will say it is a very nice and powerful piece of steam machinery. I call him ‘The Mad Scientist” because he’s got that gleam in his eyes and you know he is up to something. Have him tell you the story about wiring a magneto to a swingset when he was a kid...

Barker and I meet up every summer during the week of July 4th in Denton at The Southeast Old Thresher’s Reunion. We’ve both been involved there since the mid 80s working with the antique steam equipment. It’s not that far from Charlotte; if you’ve never been consider making a trip next year. Vintage technology is simply amazing. On top of that, there is a radio museum on the site as well.

The steamer in my avatar is a 1913 Frick. For about 15 years, I was the unofficial ‘owner’ of this traction engine. I met the owner at a steam show outside Richmond VA in 1996 and he allowed me to run the engine for the weekend. After that, wherever the engine went, I went. The owner enjoyed walking around the shows and talking with people, I enjoyed running the steamer and using it to run the threshing machine, sawmills and to plow. It was a match made in heaven. Interestingly enough, my wife also learned how to operate the Frick and she spent several weekends over the years running it when I had to work. She never did any belting, but would steam up and move around all day.

Last November, the Frick was sold to an Amish gentleman near Kinzers, Pa who has restored it. That’s one of his sons on the deck after the restoration. I’ve got the OK to come to Pennsylvania and operate it although I have yet to be able to go.

I was part owner in a 1901 Geiser Peerless for a few years until my kids came along. Financially at that point I sold my interest in the engine to concentrate on raising a family.

Now it's baseball and soccer and we are making memories.

Tim

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

I live in wesley chapel. love it

Hey Jason. do you work or are you retired?
We should get together for lunch sometime,
there's another Wesley Chapel resident on here too.

In case you're interested my wife and I were part of the
group of residents that Incorporated Wesley Chapel.
We started out fighting Indian Trail back in 1995 when
they tried to annex most of the western part of Union County.
Took'em to court and beat em twice, they were getting
ready to go to the court of appeals in Raleigh when our
atty told us we should just incorporate.
We put together a group of residents and got to work on
the bill to go before the lawmakers in Raleigh,
nine months later they handed us a town...
I served two terms on the city council, got tired of the BS,
now I just stay home and play with radios.

Come to see me sometime.

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

Hey just seen your post .I just moved here last October.We live in Wesley Chapel .We love it !

Are you retired or do you work?
We should get together for lunch sometime.
If you'd like to visit my antique radio museum, let me know.

 

[tlfoster38]

Hello, Ron. Nice Collection!

I've been in Charlotte since 1970. Moved here from Wilkesboro, NC. Wife has been a Charlottean all of her life.

I'm a retired educator and have been retired since 2003. Also, I've been a ham since 1962.

73,
Lindsay
WA4ISZ

 

[tcianci]

This is so cool! I'm up in Massachusetts, A couple days ago, it was snowing like crazy up here and it was about 5 below. I'm coming up on 60 yrs old now and every winter gets less and less tolerable. While it was snowing, I was online looking at different locations and the annual weather. The next day, after I spent a couple hours outside with the snowblower, I came in the house and told my wife "We're moving to Charlotte!"

Seriously though, I still have my mom and my FIL up here. After they've gone home to the Lord, I would seriously consider an area like Charlotte or surrounding area. All I want is a small house, a big garage and some more temperate weather. I have been further south and towards the coast but it's way too humid and crowded. I have been to California and they're just nuts out there. I have considered AZ but I can't move there (long story). So I threw my magic location dart and came up with Charlotte!

I know this is very preliminary but if anyone from the area could post information like real estate costs and the availability of small tracts of land 3-5 acres possibly and NO HOA's, I would appreciate it.

 

[Honda guy]

I live near Salisbury. I grew up all over out west and the last place we lived was northern Minnesota. We came on vaction here in 1987, and liked the people and the weather, so we moved here the following year.

We made a good decision by moving to NC, although it was a bit of a culture shock at first. We've made some good friends and I'm a motorcycle tech., so the long, hot summmers are good for the bike business